Acrylic Sheet Heat Forming

Upon cooling they will be strong and permanent.

Acrylic sheet heat forming.

To set up your plastic or acrylic sheet to bend simple curves for your miniature and model projects you need to first remove the protective covering from the material you wish to bend. I have used this technique for years with sizes up to 16 inches in diameter. Set the sheet of acrylic across the rests on the strip heater and turn it on. Just heat the sheets above 150 degrees f for 2 3 minutes until they turn from translucent to clear using a heat gun.

This is one way i heat form acrylic glass. Preparing hot air gun w. Be sure that the marked line is above the heating element. The process is straightforward.

In the vacuum forming machine the sheet is heated until it becomes pliable while being held in place by the clamping frame. Wear gloves as you do this to avoid burning your hands. Temperatures can be off as much as 75 f 42 c possibly allowing the acrylic to overheat. Acrylic sheets give off highly flammable fumes when decomposed overheating.

And because air is not forcibly circulated in a standard kitchen oven the fumes will accumulate. Use long thin 1 inch or so in width test strips to practice your technique and learn how your particular heat source affects your chosen thickness of plastic. Higher molecular weight acrylic has better heat strength during forming but is more difficult to form due to its higher melt strength and elastic memory. Once soft mold them into any shape you desire.

Acrylic sheet is opaque to most wavelengths in the infrared spectrum the surface exposed to the heater absorbs almost all the energy. For thicker sheets it will take longer and for thinner sheets it will take less time. Modify the timing as necessary. When they come into contact with the heat source there is likely to be an explosion.

At this point the pliable polycarbonate sheet is lowered onto the mold. Bending shaping plastic with hot air gun heat gun. Work on a smooth glass surface as the heated plastic won t stick to glass. You can see my other artwork at http.

The only major variable that can affect the forming process is the thickness of the plastic sheet. Tutorial for how to. Set up plastic or acrylic sheet in a simple bending jig. Lower molecular weight acrylic forms more easily and with great detail but is more sensitive to differential heating.

Ideal for perspex acrylic plexiglass polycarbonate. These gases are potentially explosive if allowed to collect in an unventilated area. Turn the sheet of acrylic over on the heating element every 30 60 seconds in order to avoid damaging it. Most kitchen ovens do not have accurate temperature control.

The rest of the sheet is heated largely by conduction.